Monday, March 1, 2010

How to Identify a Goldfinch? Sex-determination system.

It's very difficult to identify European Goldfinch's gender because of its low discrepancy between two sexes, especially before sexual maturation, when males can sing, and other factors, are much more evident.

We are going to fix some reference points to determinate sex of Goldfinch ancestral, as it occurs in nature, without mutations.

Male characteristics:
- Flesh tint red mask transhipped on top behind eye.
-
Intense black color and marked
- Strikethrough on wing, yellow well defined and marked
-
Over-wing is not dirty brown but clearly black
- F
lattened head
- Broad base of the bill
- Well and of course... singing


Female characteristics:
-
Faded, less vivid red mask, does not transhipped on top behind eye.
-
Not Intense black color, not well marked
- T
hin Strikethrough on wing, yellow not well defined and marked
-
Over-wing is not clearly black but dirty brown
-
Rounded head
- Broad base of the bill
- Not singing, but only plays "cheep"

Any Doubts? Contact me!
Nick


6 comments:

  1. hey i have a gold finch that i was told it was e female when i got it and it got all the female characteristics the way you describe it but i hear that females dont sing and the one i have never stops singing..any suggestions if its a male or a female?

    ReplyDelete
  2. There are several kind of singing, the "call" and the real sing, just a good listener can understand this difference; females just "call".
    About that there is an tricky way to recognise if is male or female, turn on the radio and wait a bit. If the bird starts to sing and try to be louder than radio, well, then is a male!
    Good Luck,
    Nick

    ReplyDelete
  3. How do i sex my goldfinch mules they are last years birds and i bought them as cocks but now bein told there females

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dave,

      in the same way you would sexing a european goldfinch! Moreover after 12 months males sings, real sings not just cip cip stuff...
      Try to turn on a radio and check if the bird will try to sing above.

      Hope it helps!
      byee

      Delete
  4. Can you distinguish a goldfinch if they are male or female when they are 1 month younger?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, is possible watching the shape of head, but it's very hard!

      Delete

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